Title: Really? Are you colorblind?
Author: Shannon – shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own "The Mentalist" or its characters, Warner Brothers and Bruno Heller do. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: G
Summary: The CBI crash a local prom in order to solve a murder (Prompt: The boundaries of bad taste)
Part of the "Red Hot Days" series: a series of different scenes both case and non-case related scenes. This can be read as part of the series or can be read on its own. Different POVs used for different stories. Lisbon/Jane shipping and most likely
Warning: Takes place during season 3, so spoilers during season 3 are fair game. So currently, that's up to "Code Red".
Author's Note: #7 in the series
...
Brea High School Prom Site
Jane had decided to stick with Lisbon, after all, she was kinda his date. Plus, he really didn't think she'd honestly let him get too far. If she couldn't grab him, then he was too far. Honestly, he thought she should relax and try to have fun. If this wasn't a high school event and there was alcohol, he'd have her have one. Just one…okay maybe two. He knew that Lisbon didn't drink too much, he had a feeling that ghosts haunted her if she did, but it could help to relax her.
Something clever.
He definitely needed to do something clever.
If he could just make her smile instead of looking so serious then his work there would be done! He was sure that he could accomplish that! Right? He was a clever person. He looked around and then the idea hit him suddenly. They were in the middle of prom. Girls were adorned in ridiculous dresses and the guys tried to match as best as they could but some of them looked like they borrowed their suits from the bottom of their father's closet.
"Really?" Jane said aloud to no one in particular.
"What?" Lisbon asked.
He'd piqued her interest. Excellent. He smiled and motioned to all around him. "Good thing you're not the fashion police."
"Jane…" She was rolling her eyes now, but he could tell that she was still amused. So, they'd continue to play this game. He'd yet to get the smile he wanted from her.
"I mean, really? Look at that couple," he said as he subtlety pointed out a pair. "That girl has to be suffering from some kind of eating disorder. Someone should seriously feed her a whole cow. And look, she's wearing that long yellow slinky dress and sure she looks skinny, but she also looks like a banana… And the guy she came with, did he honestly agree to this? I mean, he looks like salt water taffy or something…that white suit and yellow accents just aren't working for him…"
Lisbon giggled.
"Are my observations amusing to you, Lisbon?" he asked.
She nodded. "You're usually amusing or entertaining all the time, Jane."
It was true. He tried to keep life from being too mundane. The last thing they needed was the boring. "I can stop if you want…"
"No, I wouldn't want you to get bored. Plus, I think this keeps you out of trouble…well as long as you keep your voice down," she told him.
"I suppose the kids hearing about their poor dress options would be sad. I wouldn't want to make any of them cry on this most important night of their lives," Jane said.
Lisbon shrugged. "To most high school kids, this is the social event of the season…especially for seniors."
"Believe me, all of the boys are just wanting the night to be over so they can unzip their date's dress…" he said a little quieter, so only Lisbon could hear.
"Sadly, you're probably right about that. For the girls, they're hoping for some sort of piece of romance. They want to feel like a princess and prom is one of the few occasions where they can dress like it…tiara included."
"I bet you looked lovely at prom," Jane told her.
Lisbon shook her head. "I didn't go."
"Why not?"
"Family obligations," she told him.
Jane knew what that meant. Or at least he had a good idea of what that meant. He knew about some of Lisbon's family background, but not enough to really feel like he had a great grasp of her. Sure, he knew a lot about her from their times together and from general observation, but Lisbon was a deep person with lots of layers. He knew that there were layers that he may never be able to peel back. There was darkness there and pain.
"Ah," he simply said.
"I always had wanted to go though…"
"Tada!" he said with a smile. "Here you go… You're even dressed for it."
She smiled at him. "I had always wanted the dress and the little tiara…the whole princess effect… I think that's just childhood talking though. Every girl wants to be a princess, right?"
"I don't think it's silly," Jane told her. "You know there's actually a bunch of studies on girls and the influence of this princess generation. Sure, there's a lot of that are against, but there are quite a few for it. They've sometimes found that if a girl is allowed to dress up as a princess, even if its just the crown, that often times she can be more polite and calmer…she literally takes on the part of being a princess. Of course, there are other ones that say that they act like monsters. I think that they're kids and they'll model after the environment they're raised in…"
"I think you're right…but then at the same time I think there are other factors…"
"That's true."
How did they make it back around to a serious conversation? He had been trying to avoid such seriousness. "Are those two wearing duct tape?"
Lisbon turned her head to look. "Yep… I think the duct tape company does like a competition…"
"Huh… I suppose at least they're creative."
"Well and now it comes in more colors than silver."
"But silver duct tape is a classic," Jane said and grinned at her.
She grinned back. "It is. I have to say that I am very thankful not to be in a duct tape dress though…"
"You look absolutely stunning…by the way."
"Thanks," she said.
He could see her cheeks blushing and he smiled a bit wider. He was happy that he'd made the evening a bit special, especially since it was bound to be boring. He didn't realize that silly things like proms went until all hours and then there were after parties. Really? Where teens young enough to be awake to go to an after party? And Jane knew that there was an after-after party that involved a hotel room for a bunch of them. Seriously, how did they get all of that energy?
"Wow…"
He turned when he heard Lisbon comment. He spotted it. A couple that were wearing some really blaring colors. Their "colors" apparently were neon lemon-lime and neon red. He didn't know how they didn't go blind with such brightness… "Wow…there has to be a better word… They may not need lights in any room with those things…"
"At least it's quiet for the most part," Lisbon commented.
"Yes, but perhaps this school should have its students tested for color blindness…"
Lisbon laughed immediately.
. . .
TBC…
